Dental model trimmer with a combined mounting support and sediment tray

ABSTRACT

A dental model trimmer with a combined mounting support and sediment tray. A hollow trimmer housing encloses a grinding wheel, and water is directed into the housing and a drain extends from the housing to have the water flow into the tray below the housing. A drain hole is spaced above the level of the tray floor, and the water can drain out the hole while the sediment remains on the tray floor, and the drain hole will therefore not be clogged. Mounting means and fasteners are provided for securing the trimmer to the combined mounting support and sediment tray, such that the trimmer is removable from the combined mounting support and sediment tray, and the tray is releasably attachable to the bench or the like.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Werner A. Paterson 3222 North Main,Racine, Wis. 53402 [21] Appl. No. 859,001 [22] Filed Sept. 18, 1969 [45]Patented Sept. 7, 1971 [54] DENTAL MODEL TRIMMER WITH A COMBINEDMOUNTING SUPPORT AND SEDIMENT TRAY 5 Claims,-4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 51/125, 5 1 I267 [51] Int. Cl B24!) 55/02 [50] Field ofSearch 51/125, 128, 267

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,538,532 1/1951 Oliver51/267 X 802,731 10/1905 Bex 51/267 X 3,064,400 11/1962 Johnson 51/128UX FOREIGN PATENTS 121,256 4/1946 Australia Primary Examiner-Harold D.Whitehead AttorneyArthur J. Hansmann ABSTRACT: A dental model trimmerwith a combined mounting support and sediment tray. A hollow trimmerhousing encloses a grinding wheel, and water is directed into thehousing and a drain extends from the housing to have the water flow intothe tray below the housing. A drain hole is spaced above the level ofthe tray floor, and the water can drain out the hole while the sedimentremains on the tray floor, and the drain hole will therefore not beclogged. Mounting means and fasteners are provided for securing thetrimmer to the combined mounting support and sediment tray, such thatthe trimmer is removable from the combined mounting support and sedimenttray, and the tray is releasably attachable to the bench or the like.

PATENTEDSEP nan SHEET 1 0F 2 H5. 1 INVENTOR= WERNER A. PA rmsou ATTORNEYDENTAL MODEL TRIMMER WITH A COMBINED MOUNTING SUPPORT AND SEDIMENT TRAYThis invention relates to a dental model trimmer with a combinedmounting support and sediment tray.

, BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Dental model trimmers are in common usefor grinding dental models. The trimmer includes a rotatable grindingwheel, and water is directed against the wheel for flushing thegrindings from the wheel and out of the trimmer. A common problem is inconnection with eliminating the flushing water, and also there is aproblem in preventing the water from dripping onto the workbench orfloor. Still further, model trimmers which use cooling and flushingwater commonly clog the water drain when the grindings or sedimentaccumulates in the drain. Such sediment is of a nature that it becomesvery compact in a water drain, and it readily clogs the drain. Also, themodel trimmer tends to throw the water during the grinding process, andthe water commonly drains onto the bench or floor, and such undesirablecondition may even lead to a tendency to avoid using adequate supply ofwater. Still further, the mounting of the model trimmer on a workbenchis a concern, especially where the water is splashing and uncontrollablybeing drained from the trimmer.

The present invention generally recognizes the aforementioned problemsand provides adequate solutions. That is, a combined mounting supportand sediment tray is provided to be disposed beneath the model trimmerfor containing all of the water draining from the trimmer, and do so ina manner which will avoid clogging of the drain. Specifically, this isaccomplished by providing a sediment tray into which the grindings canflow and settle out so that the clear water can be drained off at alevel above that of the sediment.

Further, the present invention provides a mounting support for the modeltrimmer, and the support is arranged so that it permits removal ofeither the trimmer from the support or removal of the support andtrimmer from the workbench or the like.

Still further, the present invention provides a sediment tray whichmakes the slurry type of sediment available to the user who desires touse the slurry in the nature of a coating to be placed on the model forthe trimming process. That is, the user can pick up the slurry from thedrain train and can keep it available for putting it onto the model foruse in grinding the model.

Still another object is to provide a combined mounting support andsediment tray which can be readily and easily separated from the modeltrimmer for cleaning and for other purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view ofone embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the mounting support and sediment trayshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2, and withfragment of the model trimmer added thereto.

FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a modeltrimmer securely mounted on a combined mounting support and sedimenttray 11 which is shown bolted to a table top or workbench 12. The modeltrimmer 10 is of the type which may be powered by an electric motor 13for rotating the usual grinding wheel 14 which is rotatably mounted inthe hollow trimmer housing 16. A model support block 17 is included inthe trimmer 10, and it will be understood that a dental model is placedon the block 17 and is moved into grinding position against the rotatingwheel 14 for the desired trimming purpose. The trimmer 10 has a pedestaltype of base or lower portion which includes the mounting means and feet18 and 19. It will of course be understood that there are two feet 18and two feet 19 for a total of four feet on the model trimmer 10. Thefeet 18 and 19 therefore present the mounting means, and the feet attachto the element 1 I, in a manner described later.

It should be understood that the model trimmer 10 uses water for coolingand flushing the grinding wheel 14, in the conventional manner. Theproblem is the elimination of the used water which carries the grindingsaway from the trimmer 10. Thus a water inlet connection is not shown butwould be commonly connected to the trimmer 10 for bringing the wateronto the wheel 14, and FIG. 3 shows that the hollow housing 16 has adrain boss 21 which permits the used water to flow out of the housing16. The boss 21 simply opens at its outlet 22 and permits the water andconveyed grindings to flow into the sediment tray 11. Thus the modeltrimmer 10 can be of the type shown in US. Pat. application Ser. No.698,219, filed Jan. 16,1968, and now US. Pat. No. 3,481,086.

The combined mounting support and sediment tray 11 is provided with fourupstanding pedestals 23, one for each of the four feet 18 and 19. Thepedestals 23 have threaded openings 24, and the feet 13 and 19 havealigned openings which receive screws 26 for securing the trimmer 10 tothe tray element 11. In this arrangement, the trimmer 10 is in anelevated position on the tray element 11 in that the trimmer feet 18 and19 are at the lowest elevation on the trimmer 10, and thus water in thetray element 1 1 will not readily reach up to the trimmer 10.

The combined mounting support and sediment tray 11 includes the floor 27and the endless upstanding wall 28 extending completely around the floor27 on all sides thereof, as shown. Thus the wall 23 contains the wateron the floor 27, and such water is of course that which is coming fromthe trimmer drain 21 and flowing openly into the tray element 11.Further, it will be seen that the length and width of the floor 27, andtherefore the girth of the wall 28, are all greater than the horizontallimits of the trimmer 10 so that any water dripping off the trimmer 10will fall directly into the tray element 11. Also, the floor 27 has anelevated portion 29 which extends under the model support block 17 onthe trimmer 10, and the floor 29 is available for the operator to placethe sediment slurry thereon so that this slurry can be put on the modelduring the trimming process, as desired by one skilled in the art. Thusthe level of the water in the sediment tray element 11 normally does notrise up to the higher elevated floor 29, so the slurry can be placed onthe floor 29 without having the water dilute it or wash it away.

The combined mounting support and sediment tray 11 is mounted on thebench 12 by means of readily releaseable fasteners generally designated31. These releasable fasteners generally designated 31. These releasablefasteners 31 include the block 32 which is secured to the bench 12 byscrews, such as the screw 33. A wingnut screw 34 extends through theblock 32 and into abutment with the tray element 11 at the point of thepocket or recess 35 which is in the nature of a dimple on the trayelement 11. Thus the tray element 11 can be readily released from thebench 12, for washing the tray element 11 or for any such purpose. Thetray element 11 has three projections or bosses 36, each of whichreceives one of the anchoring screws 34, so there are three suchreleasable mounting means 31, one on each side of the tray and one atthe rear of the tray.

The combined mounting support and sediment tray 11 is provided with twowater drain holes 37 and 3% at opposite sides of the element 11. FIG. 2,and also PEG. 1, show the hole 37 provided with a drain nipple 39 whichis threaded into the hole 37, and the water would flow out the nipple 39and into a hose connected therewith and into a sink or the like, asdesired. The hole 38 is shown stopped by a drain plug 41, however thehole 37 could be plugged and the nipple 39 could be placed into the hole33 for draining into the opposite side of the tray element 11, ifdesired. The holes 37 and 38 are located spaced above the top surface ofthe floor 27 so that the grindings flowing into the tray element 11 willsettle onto the floor 27 and will not go out the drain holes 37 or 38,which ever one is used. This avoids clogging of the drain pipe or nipple39, and the tray element 11 can be separately cleaned of sediment byscooping it off the floor 27 or by other methods. That is, the drainholes 37 and 38 have their lowermost extent spaced above the surface ofthe floor 27, as clearly seen with hole 38 in FIG. 3.

What is claimed is:

1. A dental model trimmer mountable on a bench and having a housing witha hollow interior, a grinding wheel rotatably disposed in said housingfor grinding a dental model, said housing having a drain outlet openingin flow communication with said hollow interior, pedestal-type mountingmeans on said housing, a combined mounting support and sediment traydisposed beneath said trimmer and being releasably attached to saidtrimmer and including a liquidtight floor and an upstanding endless wallextending completely around said floor for containing water on saidfloor, said floor having a length and a width in excess of the maximumhorizontal dimensions of said model trimmer corresponding to said lengthand said width such that said floor extends beyond said model trimmer inall horizontal directions, first releasable fastening means on saidmodel trimmer and on said combined mounting support and sediment tray todispose the latter directly beneath said model trimmer in a position tocatch all water falling from said model trimmer and for securing saidmounting means onto said combined mounting support and sediment tray, awater drain hole in said wall at a location spaced above said floorwhich is immediately adjacent said drain hole for draining water fromsaid tray at a level spaced above said floor while leaving on said floorthe grindings from said dental model, and second releasable fasteningmeans for securing said combined mounting support and sediment tray tosaid bench.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, including support blocks integral withand extending upwardly on said floor for abutting said mounting meansand supporting said model trimmer spaced above said floor, and saidfirst fastening means engaging said blocks along with engaging saidmounting means for releasably securing said model trimmer to said tray.

3. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said second fastening meansincludes two oppositely faced screws in opposed abutment with said wallon the exterior of said wall relative to said floor, said wall having apocket for receiving each of said screws in holding said combinedmounting support and sediment tray onto said bench.

4. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said floor extends along twoelevations with the upper one of said elevations presenting said floorfor holding slurry placed thereon, said drain hole being located in thatportion of said wall which is contiguous to said floor on the lower oneof said elevations.

5. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said combined mounting supportand sediment tray wall has a said water drain hole located in each ofthe two opposite sides of said wall which extend transverse to the planein which said grinding wheel rotates, so that water can be drained fromsaid tray through either of the said two holes and to either side ofsaid model trimmer.

1. A dental model trimmer mountable on a bench and having a housing witha hollow interior, a grinding wheel rotatably disposed in said housingfor grinding a dental model, said housing having a drain outlet openingin flow communication with said hollow interior, pedestal-type mountingmeans on said housing, a combined mounting support and sediment traydisposed beneath said trimmer and being releasably attached to saidtrimmer and including a liquidtight floor and an upstanding endless wallextending completely around said floor for containing water on saidfloor, said floor having a length and a width in excess of the maximumhorizontal dimensions of said model trimmer corresponding to said lengthand said width such that said floor extends beyond said model trimmer inall horizontal directions, first releasable fastening means on saidmodel trimmer and on said combined mounting support and sediment tray todispose the latter directly beneath said model trimmer in a position tocatch all water falling from said model trimmer and for securing saidmounting means onto said combined mounting support and sediment tray, awater drain hole in said wall at a location spaced above said floorwhich is immediately adjacent said drain hole for draining water fromsaid tray at a level spaced above said floor while leaving on said floorthe grindings from said dental model, and second releasable fasteningmeans for securing said combined mounting support and sediment tray tosaid bench.
 2. The subject matter of claim 1, including support blocksintegral with and extending upwardly on said floor for abutting saidmounting means and supporting said model trimmer spaced above saidfloor, and said first fastening means engaging said blocks along withengaging said mounting means for releasably securing said model trimmerto said tray.
 3. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein said secondfastening means includes two oppositely faced screws in opposed abutmentwith said wall on the exterior of said wall relative to said floor, saidwall having a pocket for receiving each of said screws in holding saidcombined mounting support and sediment tray onto said bench.
 4. Thesubject matter of claim 1, wherein said floor extends along twoelevations with the upper one of said elevations presenting said floorfor holding slurry placed thereon, said drain hole beiNg located in thatportion of said wall which is contiguous to said floor on the lower oneof said elevations.
 5. The subject matter of claim 1, wherein saidcombined mounting support and sediment tray wall has a said water drainhole located in each of the two opposite sides of said wall which extendtransverse to the plane in which said grinding wheel rotates, so thatwater can be drained from said tray through either of the said two holesand to either side of said model trimmer.